By Levy Masiteng 

A new robotics and artificial intelligence lab at Siyabonga Secondary School in Soweto will give learners access to coding, robotics, AI and career-readiness training.

The lab was launched in May through a partnership between the Shoprite Foundation and the Trevor Noah Foundation. It will serve as a continuation pathway for learners in the area, with nearby Moses Kotane Primary School already operating a robotics lab.

The programme will provide Grade 8 and 9 learners with curriculum-aligned coding and robotics lessons during school hours. Grade 10 to 12 learners will take part in an after-school programme focused on artificial intelligence and career readiness.

Learners and educators will also use technologies such as motion sensors, microcontrollers and smart devices that can detect movement, respond to inputs and communicate data.

“Robotics is no longer a niche area in education – it’s a rapidly growing field reshaping how young people learn and engage with technology globally,” said Shoprite Foundation Director Maude Modise.

“By bringing labs like this into South African schools, we aim to support learners to step confidently into the future. Technology is already part of their everyday lives, but these skills are essential to help them unlock the opportunities and innovation it brings.”

According to the Trevor Noah Foundation, the Siyabonga lab is its fifth robotics lab in Gauteng under its Khulani Schools programme.

The foundation said the placement of the lab in the same community as Moses Kotane Primary School would allow learners to continue building coding and robotics skills from primary school into high school.

“We believe every learner deserves access to the tools, skills and educational pathways they need to thrive. By creating spaces where learners can explore, experiment and build real-world skills, we are helping young people imagine new possibilities for themselves and empowering them to contribute meaningfully to their communities,” Trevor Noah Foundation Communications Manager Olona Tywabi said.

The partnership brings together the Trevor Noah Foundation’s school development work and the Shoprite Foundation’s support for education-focused projects. The Shoprite-backed foundation is now supporting its seventh robotics lab, following earlier launches this year in Dullstroom in Mpumalanga and Khayelitsha in the Western Cape.

Educational partner Sifiso EdTech will oversee curriculum support, teacher training and programme implementation.

“Learners will use coding and robotics to tackle real-world community challenges such as designing safety systems and monitoring soil and water use in school gardens,” said Head of Digital Learning and Technology Xoliswa Mahlangu.

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By Levy Masiteng 

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has said that schools will start receiving delayed subsidy payments from the beginning of June, after missing the May deadline for the first tranche of funding.

In a statement issued over the weekend, the department said it acknowledged the delay in releasing the subsidies to schools across the province, adding that  the funds were expected to have been deposited into school accounts by 15 May.

“Firstly, we would like to express our apologies to all schools and stakeholders of Gauteng for the delays in the release of funds schools are entitled to as per paragraph 12A of the National Norms and Standards for School Funding (NNSSF),”Gauteng Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC, Lebogang Maile said.

The subsidies are meant to cover critical operational costs at schools, including learning and teaching support materials, municipal services, maintenance, and administrative expenses.

“We recognise that the funds are also key in the promotion of proper school governance, financial management, and improved educational outcomes while addressing historical injustices of our society and improving conditions in previously underfunded public schools,” Maile added.

Under paragraph 121A of the National Norms and Standards for School Funding, provincial education departments must make transfer payments to public schools on or before 15 May and 15 November each year.

The department said schools had already received final allocation letters indicating how much funding they would receive during the current financial year.

“We want to assure the public and all stakeholders that the funds are there and schools will start accessing them from the start of June,” Maile said. 

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Staff Reporter

A University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) pilot study has found that direct cash support improved medication adherence and quality of life among unemployed young adults recently diagnosed with psychosis.

The research, funded by the Wellcome Trust and published in the International Journal of Mental Health, comes as South Africa continues to debate the introduction of a Basic Income Grant (BIG), also known in some countries as Universal Basic Income.

UKZN said the study adds evidence to the policy debate by showing that unconditional cash transfers can improve mental health outcomes among people facing the “triple burden” of vulnerability — youth, unemployment, and psychosis.

The pilot trial was conducted across public hospitals in KZN and involved 60 unemployed young adults aged between 18 and 29 who had recently been diagnosed with first episode psychosis, a severe mental health condition that often emerges in early adulthood.

Half of the participants continued receiving standard clinical care, while the other half received standard clinical care plus R1,350 a month for three months.

The study found that participants who received the cash support were more likely to adhere to their medication and reported a better quality of life than those who did not receive financial assistance.

Joyce Mlay, a UKZN PhD candidate and one of the researchers, said many young people with psychosis face serious socio economic barriers, including lack of money for transport, food insecurity and unemployment, all of which can make it harder to access care consistently.

Professor Andrew Tomita, the senior author from UKZN, said the results showed the importance of addressing poverty as part of mental health care.

“This research shows that when you reduce financial stress, you enable better health-seeking behaviour. Mental health recovery does not happen in isolation from social and economic conditions.”

The multidisciplinary research team included Mlay, Dr Lise Jamieson of the University of the Witwatersrand, Professor Thirusha Naidu of UKZN, Dr Busisiwe Bhengu of UKZN, Professor Saeeda Paruk of UKZN, Professor Bonginkosi Chiliza of UKZN, Professor Jonathan K. Burns of the University of Exeter and UKZN, Dr Richard Lessells of UKZN, and Tomita.

Although the trial was small and was not designed to conclusively measure long term clinical outcomes, the researchers said it provided important early evidence that addressing poverty could play a role in mental health recovery.

They said the findings suggest that relatively modest cash transfers could improve adherence to treatment and may help prevent hospital readmissions and reduce long term healthcare costs.

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The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has agreed to reconvene its meeting with Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela over his decision to place the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) under administration.

The committee deliberated on Chairperson Tebogo Letsie’s decision to postpone a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, after members did not receive the required documentation in time to prepare adequately.

Committee members agreed that Letsie had little choice but to postpone the meeting after the minister failed to provide the committee with the necessary presentations and supporting documents relating to the NSFAS intervention.

The committee also rejected claims that the meeting had been cancelled through a WhatsApp message, clarifying that the chairperson had formally communicated the postponement to members through an official letter and had engaged the Chair of Chairs on the matter.

“The committee has recommended that the next meeting be held on Friday, 29 May 2026. Committee members also called for the timeous delivery of documentation about the appointment of the NSFAS administrator, so they can prepare for the meeting effectively,” Letsie said.

He added that, in line with Parliament’s accountability framework, the Minister is required to appear before the committee to account for the decision to place NSFAS under administration and to explain the process followed.

The committee further accepted NSFAS’s explanation that it could not cover travel expenses for former board members, as they no longer hold office and there may be no legal or policy basis for such expenditure.

Earlier this month, Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela placed the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) under administration due to governance instability within the institution.

Members said the meeting is of significant public importance, as it affects millions of NSFAS students and the broader higher education sector.

– SAnews.gov.za

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By Thapelo Molefe

The Hawks have re-arrested a 29-year-old suspect, Luthuli Sihle, linked to an alleged university admission fraud and corruption scheme at Walter Sisulu University.

Sihle was re-arrested on Wednesday and appeared before the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on the same day after a warrant for his arrest was issued when he failed to appear in court on 4 May.

According to the Hawks, the case relates to allegations dating back to March 2023 during the peak registration period at the university’s Health and Science Faculty.

“It is alleged that the accused, who was entrusted with responsibilities relating to student registration and administrative assistance at the time, exploited his position of authority and access to institutional processes for personal financial gain,” the Hawks said in a statement on Thursday.

Police allege that Sihle approached parents seeking placement opportunities for their child and falsely claimed he could secure admission at the university in exchange for payment.

“It is further alleged that he demanded and received an amount of R25 000 in exchange for facilitating the capturing of the prospective student into the university registration system,” the Hawks said.

The victim allegedly transferred the money into a Capitec Bank account purportedly belonging to the accused on 13 March 2023.

Despite the payment, the student was allegedly never admitted to the institution. The parents later raised concerns with university management, leading to the matter being reported to police and referred to the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit in Mthatha.

Investigators conducted what the Hawks described as “an extensive inquiry into the alleged unlawful transaction” before Sihle was initially arrested on 19 September 2024.

He was granted R2,000 bail and had been appearing in court until his failure to appear earlier this month.

The Hawks said his non-appearance “constituted a direct disregard for judicial authority and resulted in the court authorising a warrant for his arrest”.

The matter was postponed to next week Thursday for further court proceedings. Sihle remains out on bail.

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By Levy Masiteng 

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has rejected claims that it has been placed under administration, dismissing online reports of such as “false and misleading”.

The department issued the clarification after claims circulated that the provincial education department was facing national government intervention under Section 100 of the Constitution.

Section 100 allows the national executive to intervene when a province cannot or does not fulfil an executive obligation.

ALSO READ: MPs threaten summons for Manamela over collapsed NSFAS briefing

Such an intervention may include issuing a directive to the province or, where necessary, assuming responsibility for the relevant obligation.

If responsibility is assumed, the national executive must notify the National Council of Provinces within 14 days, and the intervention is subject to parliamentary approval and review.

The rumours gained traction amid ongoing scrutiny over financial and operational pressures in the department, including budget constraints, accruals, staffing pressures and concerns about the delivery of education services.

However, the department insisted that no intervention had been approved.

“The department has not been placed under administration,” it said.

ALSO READ: Gwarube: AI can’t replace basic learning

“Any decision to place a provincial department under administration is a significant executive action that can only be authorised by the National Cabinet and must be formally communicated through an official Cabinet statement. No such Cabinet decision or statement has been issued.”

The department added that there was “no decision taken by the National Cabinet to invoke Section 100 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and place the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education under administration”.

The department warned the public against relying on unverified social media claims.

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By Levy Masiteng 

About 100 students at the University of the Western Cape marched on Thursday over poor residence conditions, as demonstrations unfolded during the institution’s mid-year examination period.

The students marched to the university’s main campus to demand urgent intervention over “poor living conditions” in campus residences.

Student leaders said the issues had been raised repeatedly with management since 2023, accusing the university of failing to act on complaints about poor maintenance, inadequate shower facilities, poor cooking conditions and unstable Wi-Fi connectivity at residences.

“We have been raising these issues for years, but nothing changes,” one student leader said during the march.

ALSO READ: KZN Education denies claims of being under administration

Students said unstable internet access was affecting their ability to study and prepare for examinations.

They said that poor sanitation and overcrowded facilities were creating “unbearable” living conditions at a critical point in the academic calendar.

UWC students are currently writing mid-year assessments, placing additional pressure on university management to resolve the standoff quickly.

According to the university’s academic calendar, mid-year assessments began on 19 May and continue until 3 June.

EWN reported that examinations were continuing despite the protest, and that an attempt by some protesting students to disrupt exams on Thursday morning was quickly contained by university officials.

The protest followed earlier accommodation-related unrest at UWC this year.

In February, students shut down the campus over residence placements, with SRC president McIntosh Khasembe saying at the time that about 4,000 students still needed to be placed in residences.

Video footage published online showed students gathering on campus and marching in protest, with some demonstrations disrupting movement around university facilities.

Student representatives reportedly gave university management two days to address their grievances after a meeting held on Monday.

ALSO READ: CETA slammed over administrator’s R3 million salary, governance failures

UWC’s Residential Services division says its Student Housing section deals with physical infrastructure, services, maintenance and assets, while other sections handle placement, administration and residence life support.

But students insisted that maintenance failures and poor living standards had persisted despite repeated engagements with the university.

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Simon Nare

The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has recommended that Minister Buti Manamela be brought before it, by summons if necessary, after a scheduled briefing on the crisis at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) collapsed over the department’s failure to submit its presentation on time.

Committee members on Wednesday accused Manamela of disrespecting Parliament after Tuesday’s meeting was postponed. The meeting was meant to allow him to explain his decision earlier this month to dissolve the NSFAS board and place the scheme under administration for 24 months, or until a new board is appointed.

Professor Hlengani Mathebula has since been appointed as NSFAS administrator.

The committee also wanted former NSFAS board members to account for events leading up to the administration decision, including mass resignations, governance failures and internal disputes over the appointment of a chief executive officer.

Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie told MPs during Wednesday’s sitting that the department had not submitted its presentation by late Monday, despite being required to do so by 5pm on Friday.

Letsie said Manamela had written to him at 5pm on Friday asking for an extension.

“We did not respond to it because the letter in itself was problematic. It did not say we are asking for an extension from Friday to Saturday or Friday to Sunday or Friday to Monday. So, we did not respond to that particular letter, hoping that they will respond, they will bring the presentation as required throughout the weekend,” he said.

Letsie said he kept committee members updated throughout the weekend that the presentation had still not been received. By late Monday afternoon, he said, it became clear that the committee could not proceed with the meeting.

Letsie said the administrator wrote to him only on Monday to say the request to bring former board members would not be entertained because they were no longer in the books of NSFAS and paying for their flights and accommodation would amount to wasteful expenditure.

He said he found this “bizarre” because the request had been made on 7 May, yet the committee was informed only on the eve of the meeting.

Letsie also criticised Manamela for writing to him on Tuesday to say he was ready to attend the postponed meeting, a position later reflected in a statement issued by the department.

“The statement was a bit problematic because it indicated or painted a picture that we cancelled the meeting when they were ready to come but they had not sent the presentation,” he said.

In its statement, the Department of Higher Education and Training said Manamela had confirmed his availability and readiness to appear before the committee. It said the postponement took place in the context of urgent litigation by former NSFAS board members over the decision to place the scheme under administration.

The department said Manamela remained committed to parliamentary accountability and would continue engaging the committee on a suitable future date.

But MPs across party lines said the minister must be called to account and that the committee should ramp up efforts to secure his appearance, including approaching National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza if necessary.

ANC MP Gaolatlhe David Kgabo said Manamela must correct the public impression that the meeting was cancelled despite him being ready to appear.

“We will not allow the minister to drag our names through the mud as the portfolio committee. We will not allow our integrity undermined,” Kgabo said.

“It must be made public and be affirmed that indeed the minister has failed to adhere to his responsibilities of making sure that he submits the report before the committee so that we can process that report,” he said.

EFF MP Sihle Lonzi said Manamela had no choice but to appear before the committee.

“The minister must come to parliament whether he likes it or not. Kicking and screaming we want him here so that we can ask him those questions,” Lonzi said.

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